10 Things to Do in Lisbon in December

December in Lisbon is a great idea. The city prepares for Christmas: the streets are illuminated, the center is filled with craft markets, cultural activities for children and the smell of Bolo Rei and roasted chestnuts. It is the perfect time to enjoy the charm of the corners that make the Portuguese capital a unique destination.

In this post I tell you the proposals that you can not miss if you travel to Lisbon in December. In Lisbon there is always a lot to see, and although it is a month with more cold and rain than usual in the area, the mild climate allows you to enjoy all the activities that I have selected for you. Of course, don't forget your umbrella!

My favorite plan for this time of the year is, without a doubt, to do a wine and cheese tasting in a wine cellar in Lisbon, where you can taste delicious Portuguese wines from up to 6 different regions, an experience that lasts approximately 2 hours, and in which you will pair the wines with an incredible selection of tasty cheeses, sausages and appetizers.

An ideal activity to go with friends, family or your partner, in which you will delve into the world of Portuguese wine with a professional winemaker, and in which you can share your experience and criteria with the other members of the tour. Join this unique and incomparable gastronomic journey!

The best option to get to know the Portuguese capital and the Christmas illumination in the month of December comfortably and at your own pace, is to book a tourist bus and streetcar ticket in Lisbon, with which you will visit more than fifty emblematic places and monuments, having the possibility to get off at those that you are most interested in.

You only have to design the route that best suits your interests, for which you will be provided with a map, and you can admire the Belém Tower, the Vasco da Gama Bridge, the Oriente Station, the Jeronimos Monastery, the Cathedral of Lisbon, among other points of interest.

In addition, you will have at your disposal an audio guide so you do not miss any detail of the history and architecture while exploring the city.

And if you are going to be in Lisbon for more than three days in December, I recommend that in your list of things to do and visit in Lisbon, you include an excursion to Fatima where you can explore the incredible Sanctuary of Lisbon in a month in which the Catholic feast is honored par excellence.

This guided tour, which lasts approximately 5 hours, includes round-trip transportation so you don't have to worry about how to get to Fatima, which is located 127 kilometers from the Portuguese capital. In addition, an expert local guide will accompany you throughout the tour so that you do not miss any detail of the history of the place.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Chapel of Apparitions, the House of the Three Shepherds, as well as attend mass at the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. Check the schedules to make sure that your excursion will coincide with the day and time of worship.

Whenever you go to Lisbon, you can't miss a good Fado concert. Although at this time of the year the streets and shopping malls are filled with Christmas carols, a visit to the Portuguese capital will never be complete without the melodies of the most famous saudade in the world.

And if you fall in love with this music as so many of us do, you can enjoy its history at the Fado Museum. It is the perfect place to enjoy the most genuine Lisbon, besides being a unique plan if you catch a rainy and cold day.

Of course, in times of high tourist influx such as December, although there are several mythical places in Lisbon to listen to fado, many of them in the Alfama district, it is necessary to book in advance if you want to enjoy a good concert, especially if you want an evening of fado that also includes dinner in Lisbon.

If you want to escape the winter cold, you can choose to visit some of the main museums and monuments in Lisbon. Here is a list for you to choose the one that best suits your preferences:

• Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon: An example of Manueline art, this is one of the most popular and most visited monuments in Lisbon along with the Belem Tower, a World Heritage Site since 1983.
• Belém Tower in Lisbon: Also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is one of the most iconic monuments of Lisbon from which you will have incredible views of the city.
• Royal Treasure Museum in Lisbon: Located in the National Palace of Ajuda, it has a collection with 11 different themes and interactive exhibitions distributed in three different floors.
• Calouste Gulbenkian Museum: An impressive collection to approach the culture and history of the city.
• Benfica Museum in Lisbon: If you are passionate about soccer, you cannot miss the guided tour of the Estádio da Luz and the Benfica Museum in Lisbon.

For almost ten years now, Lisbon has been hosting an event for metal music lovers in December. The organization offers a different experience to the Christmas that seems to fill every corner of the city at this time of the year.

The Unter The Doom festival has passed through different venues of the Portuguese capital with the best international bands and is a must if you enjoy dark sounds and amplifiers.

I advise you to check their official website to confirm the exact dates.

If your December trip to Lisbon coincides with some cold and rainy days and you feel like doing something interesting under cover, I have the perfect plan for you. One of the museums that I liked the most in the Portuguese capital was the Carris Museum, a museum of public transport in the city.

Yes, as the name suggests, it is a museum focused on rail transport, because you have surely already realized how important the streetcars are in the city of Lisbon, but beware, not only rail transport: there you can see the horse carriages and get an idea of what the city was like more than a hundred years ago. A unique experience.

The Carris Museum, located on Rua 1º de Maio, is open all year round (except Sundays), between 10 am and 6 pm. In general you can buy tickets directly at the ticket office, but in peak tourist months such as December it is best to book before you go. Note that children can enter for a price of about 2 € and adults pay about 4 €.

At the beginning of December, the Natalis Fair is held in Lisbon, with tasting products and handicrafts. It is a fair organized to prepare and enjoy the approaching Christmas, so there you will find gifts of all kinds: gastronomic products, books, decoration and fashion.

The fair also has space to rest and for the little ones to entertain themselves. If you're in Lisbon during these dates, it's the perfect way to get ready for the holidays.

Located at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa fairgrounds on Rua do Bojador, this free event changes its dates every year, but usually takes place in early December, over 4 days. A fact to keep in mind is that you can go by car and there are parking spaces available, but you can also use public transport and take the metro to Oriente station.

Wonderland Lisboa takes place in December in the Eduardo VII Park, the largest in the city. The park is a must-see all year round, and at this time of the year you will find it highly decorated for tourism. The Wonderland market is first of all a market, with its stalls of Christmas products, but it also becomes a great plan for the whole family.

Why? Let me tell you: in addition to the gift and Christmas product stands, at Wonderland you will find an ice skating rink and a toboggan run, a giant Christmas tree inside a Christmas village, merry-go-rounds and entertainment shows. Plus, admission is free.

Wonderland is a perfect plan to do with children in Lisbon. To get there, you can take the bus 736 or 732 or the subway. In any case, the stop where you have to get off is called Marques de Pombal.

Lisbon has some ancient and monumental churches, which in the month of December open their doors to visitors to enjoy the music. It is, above all, a repertoire of baroque sacred music, which at this time of year goes beyond the stone walls of emblematic monuments such as the Basilica da Estrelaand can be heard from the street.

Christmas concerts are a tradition in the city, with a great response from the public. The churches fill up during the concerts, many of them free, so I advise you to check the programand make time in your tour to enjoy chamber music in an impressive setting.

Some of the churches that organize free concerts in December are the Church of San Roque, the Church of Santo Domingo or the Church of Gracia, so you are spoilt for choice.

One of the attractions of Lisbon is its mild climate, but in spite of that Lisbon has in December a colder than usual and rainy weather. The average minimum temperature is around 9º and the maximum is 14º, which is not a bad temperature to walk around the city with the appropriate clothing. In addition, you can also enjoy sunny days or moments, especially at the beginning of the month. Temperatures are dropping as December progresses, and the possibility of precipitation also increases, but there are many things you can do in Lisbon in winter.

The sky is usually cloudy at this time of year and the chance of rain is high, although rain in Lisbon does not detract from the attractiveness of the Portuguese capital, quite the contrary. You just have to remember this information when packing your suitcase to have a hassle-free trip.

The high season for tourism in Lisbon is the summer (from June to September), but lately **the number of tourists has been increasing throughout the year. Portugal has a great attraction for beach tourism in the hot months, but Lisbon has many attractions in addition to the weather.

Especially in December, as it is a city with many Christmas celebrations. It is a city much appreciated by travelers, so the demand for accommodation and transportation in Lisbon is constant. If you are sure that your destination in December is Lisbon, book in advance the activities that interest you so you don't miss any plan.

Lisbon prices in December are a bit more expensive than in the low season because of the December 6 long weekend and the approaching Christmas season. Lisbon has offers for all budgets, but at this time of year there are plenty of options to treat yourself and scratch your pocket.

I advise you to book your hotel and activities in advance because prices can skyrocket and availability drops as these dates approach. If you plan your trip ahead of time, you can have lower prices and a wider choice of accommodations and activities.

Lisbon's temperatures in December are colder than the rest of the year, but you can sightsee without problems at this time because the general climate of the city is mild. Just remember to bring clothes for the rain and cold: a good coat, umbrella and extra clothes in case you get caught in an unexpected downpour.

And above all, if you plan to tour this city on foot, wear comfortable shoes, the city has many cobblestone sections and is full of hills.

Do you already have a clear plan for Lisbon in December? Wait a minute! I have some other proposals to share with you:

• In Lisbon there are restaurants for all tastes and for all budgets. If you want to know everything that the capital of Portugal has to offer, I advise you to sign up for a gastronomic tour of Lisbon by the city.
• And if the weather is good and you want to live a unique experience, do not hesitate to take a cruise on the Tagus. Another perspective of the city that you will not be able to forget.
• Finally, if you want to know the urban art galleries as well as the most popular street artists I recommend you to take a street art tour in Lisbon.

Now I have told you everything. Good luck with the rain and... enjoy your trip!